Wichita eagle., 1887-01-28
roRM OF GAcE or BALLOT PAPER

FORM OF BACE OF BALLOT PAPER
Election Tor e.. .--.-..-....--.
NorE-The number on the ballot paper IS TO
correspond with that on the counterfeit
The voter takes the properly marked
ballot into a private compartment at the
polling station, and there, with 8 pencil
provided for the purpose, places a cross
on the right hand side and opposite TO the
name OF each candidate for whom he
votes. Then folding it up SO as to show
the Official mark or the back he leaves the
Commandment, exhibits the mark only -
the presiding officer and in his presence
deposits the ballot in the box. Directions
for the guidance Of the voter are placarded
outside Of every polling station and in
every compartment. II he spoil q ballot
paper through inadvertenCe he can obtain
another Each candidate may appoint
one officer to attend at each polling place,
and all the officers and agents must take
the oath Of secresy. At the close Of the
polls the boxes are sealed and taken
charge Of by the returning officer, who
cpens the boxes and counts the votes IN
the presence of the agents Of the candI
dates. In case Of tie the returning
officer gives the casting vote, but all per
sons. such as agents, clerks and mesSen-
gers paid for services at an election are
debarred from voting. The costs are
paid by the returning officer, who must
be reimbursed by the candidates or their
pr0posers or seconlers in equal shares.
\ BASIS FOR REFORM.
Mr.. Rice thinks that this system Of
balloting i much superior to our own,
but he would use it only as q basis for a
radical reform in cur method, though he
does not undertake to define the mOdidca-
tiuns which he regards as necessary. He
would also adopt the plan Of making the
expenses of an election q charge upon the
public. for the two chief evils Of our
present system seem to him to be the
unlimited and virtually compulsory dis
bureemeut of money by the candidate or
| his supporters. aEd sle frequent failure
! Of the present mode Of voting TO correctly
| record the popular verdict. The English
and Australian pam Of bailOtiug he finds
/ prevents bribery ard corruption, ANA the
/ ASSUMPTION by the state OF the expenses
! Of elections would help TO purify our poll
! ties By taking away from money IL power
| in elections.
| OF course, if elections were conducted
| at the cost Of the government some restric-
! tons would need to be imposed 70 prevent
| mems placing their names on the list q
! candidates from mere love Of notoriety
! In Australia every candidate i required
| 70 deposit 4 fixed sum before his name i
| entered, and if he fails to poll more than a
| certain proportion Of the votes obtained
! by that one OF the successful candidates
/ who receives the smallest number OF
! votes, the deposit is forfeited 10 the state
| In England il has been proposed - make
! any candidate responsible for his own ex
| pensessswho fails to poll one-eishth OF tht
| constituency at least Another PROPOSE
| ton Is 10 require large list Of indorsiug
| voters, and thus indirectly 10 'abolist
the corruptions of primary politics, fol
| the candidate would be put up by th'
| people rather than by q caucus or noni
| mating convention New York Sun.